Sequoia National ForestNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Sequoia National ForestWed, 01 Nov 2017 09:54:49 +0000Sequoia National Foresthttp://kvpr.org
Ezra David RomeroIn 2015 the Rough Fire burned more than 150,000 acres in the mountains east of Fresno. The blaze burned hot and fast threatening Hume Lake Christian Camps in Sequoia National Forest. But while most of the area is starting to recover Boyden Cavern has yet to reopen. But that could soon change. Usually the parking lot and picnic area at Boyden Cavern along Highway 180 in the Giant Sequoia National Monument is packed full of people. But traffic cones and caution tape have blocked the entrance for two years. The only life around is the rushing Kings River and passersby like Doug Borba that remember how low the river was last year. “It was running then,” says Borba. “You could probably walk across it then. Not now. It’s too dangerous.” Borba is from Tulare and he’s visiting the area with his girlfriend and her family from Texas. He says he would have liked to take them Boyden Cavern. He’s toured the marble cave system four times. “It was interesting,” says Borba. “When you go up in and theyTwo Years After Rough Fire, Boyden Cavern Still Sits Shutteredhttp://kvpr.org/post/two-years-after-rough-fire-boyden-cavern-still-sits-shuttered
79509 as http://kvpr.orgTue, 11 Jul 2017 21:37:55 +0000Two Years After Rough Fire, Boyden Cavern Still Sits ShutteredKerry KleinRight now in California’s Sierra Nevada, an estimated 66 million trees have died, due to a deadly combination of drought and bark beetles, which take advantage of dry, thirsty trees. But could we prevent beetles from ever attacking trees in the first place? Researchers have been asking this question for decades, and a new tool fends off bark beetles using the very thing that makes them so deadly. Take a look at a mountain pine beetle and you probably won’t see much. A tiny black and brown pellet, around the size of a mouse dropping. It looks simple. Kind of dumb, really. And yet, as forester Brian Block with Sequoia National Forest explains, these seemingly unassuming insects are taking out millions of towering, stately trees. He and I are looking at a tall, brown sugar pine near Lake Isabella. I ask him, “How does something so small kill something so big?” “Sheer numbers,” he says. “Thousands and thousands of little pinpricks.” The tree can probably defend itself from one beetle onA New Weapon In the Bark Beetle Fight: Pheromoneshttp://kvpr.org/post/new-weapon-bark-beetle-fight-pheromones
67230 as http://kvpr.orgSat, 20 Aug 2016 00:33:23 +0000A New Weapon In the Bark Beetle Fight: PheromonesEzra David RomeroUPDATE: Since this story was produced the Pacific fisher population in the Southern Sierra Nevada has been listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. The Pacific Fisher was not listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act . There’s a furry little animal that lives in the mountains along the West Coast that soon could get an added step of protection by being listed as threatened both in California and nationally. And as FM89’s Ezra David Romero reports they face a number of threats including wildfire. Christa Hollon and her class of kindergartners from Horace Mann Elementary School in Bakersfield are on a tour of a zoo called the California Living Museum full of animals native to the Golden State. They just saw coyotes, a pair of bald eagles and a black bear. Now they’re looking at a mammal that looks like a chubby weasel. “He’s called a?” Hollon says.“ Taz, Taz, Taz that’s his name.” Taz and his girlfriend Lola are Pacific fishers . “So they’reWildfire In The Sierra Nevada Is Threatening The Existence Of This Cat-like Mammalhttp://kvpr.org/post/wildfire-sierra-nevada-threatening-existence-cat-mammal
61812 as http://kvpr.orgWed, 06 Apr 2016 20:30:29 +0000Wildfire In The Sierra Nevada Is Threatening The Existence Of This Cat-like MammalOn July 31 st , 2015 the staff of the Buck Rock Fire Lookout in the Sequoia National Forest spotted smoke from a small lightning caused fire near Rough Creek. The blaze would quickly grow in the tinder dry forest, eventually becoming the largest fire recorded in this part of the Sierra, destroying over 151,000 acres. Crews including Kathy Allison work to wrap the Buck Rock Lookout in protective material as the Rough Fire approaches. Credit Buck Rock Foundation’s Facebook Edit | Remove The fire even threatened the Buck Rock lookout itself, where crews were forced to evacuate the facility due to the smoke and flames. While the historic tower survived the blaze, we spoke with the woman who usually on-duty at Buck Rock, Kathy Allison. For several decades she’s lived in the tower, scanning the skies for fires, assisting with search and rescue operations, and serving as an educational resource for the 6,000 hikers who climb the lookout’s steps each year. Allison joined us on Valley EditionLife On Top Of Buck Rock, Watching The Rough Fire Ragehttp://kvpr.org/post/life-top-buck-rock-watching-rough-fire-rage
54288 as http://kvpr.orgTue, 29 Sep 2015 20:01:01 +0000Life On Top Of Buck Rock, Watching The Rough Fire RageJason ScottA popular hiking and equestrian trail that stretches through the Central Sierra has started to see an increasing number of hikers. As FM89’s Jason Scott reports, Hollywood may be to thank for it. The Pacific Crest Trail stretches 2,600 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border to Canada, along the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. It’s always been a popular draw for outdoor enthusiasts, but lately it’s seen a surge in activity. Mark Larabee is the managing editor of the Pacific Crest Trail Association website. He says the recent Oscar-nominated movie “Wild” has sparked interest in the trail. Larabee: “We’re seeing more interest, obviously, with the book “Wild” and the movie. I think they’ve increased interest in the trail but in general, usage on the trail is up and we are seeing more people interested in the Pacific Crest Trail.” Larabee says it’s difficult to determine the exact number of hikers on the trail, but he estimates that hundreds of thousands of people travel portions of'Wild' Growth In Hikers On Pacific Crest Trailhttp://kvpr.org/post/wild-growth-hikers-pacific-crest-trail
50645 as http://kvpr.orgFri, 03 Jul 2015 01:39:53 +0000'Wild' Growth In Hikers On Pacific Crest TrailDiana AguileraUpdate: As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the blaze is 90 percent contained and has charred 2,646 acres. All evacuations have been lifted. A rapidly moving wildfire in the Sequoia National Forest has already engulfed 2,200 acres and is threatening 1,000 homes near the Kern County community of Lake Isabella . KVPR’s Diana Aguilera reports. Pushed by strong winds, the Shirley Fire has already destroyed homes and is burning in steep, rugged terrain about 40 miles northeast of Bakersfield. As of Monday afternoon, US Forest Service spokesman Sean Collins says the fire was about 10 percent contained. "We are fighting aggressively by tonight we may know a bit more we hope to see those containment numbers increase substantially if everything goes in our favor." The blaze broke out on Friday and grew quickly over the weekend, forcing officials to issue a mandatory evacuation for 500 homes. Advisory evacuations have also been ordered in the community of Alta Sierra. More than 1,000 firefighters areShirley Fire Threatens Homes, Prompts Evacuationhttp://kvpr.org/post/shirley-fire-threatens-homes-prompts-evacuation
34309 as http://kvpr.orgTue, 17 Jun 2014 00:33:07 +0000Shirley Fire Threatens Homes, Prompts EvacuationKen Murray for Zocalo Public SquareOne of the great things about living in California’s Central Valley is the easy access to one of the great mountain ranges of the world, the Sierra Nevada, and its beautiful forests. Unfortunately, through no fault of anyone in the valley, that access is being threatened. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve grown to love the mountains so much that I’ve done volunteer work in the forests of the Sierra for the past 15 years. And over that time, I’ve seen a dramatic shift in the condition of the forests. The problems are twofold: a lack of funding, and a lack of personnel. The problem is particularly acute in the Sequoia National Forest, most easily accessed from Bakersfield or Porterville. It has no forest rangers. Let me be very clear: I do not use the word “ranger” like others, who count anyone wearing a Forest Service uniform as a ranger. What I am talking about is the absence of the traditional “ranger-naturalist,” who spends his or her time tromping the trails. These are the rangers whoCommentary: Time To Save The Sierra's Vanishing Trailshttp://kvpr.org/post/commentary-time-save-sierras-vanishing-trails
27537 as http://kvpr.orgThu, 23 Jan 2014 23:25:49 +0000Commentary: Time To Save The Sierra's Vanishing TrailsJoe MooreHistorically dry conditions in the Sierra Nevada have resulted in a rare January wildfire burning in a remote area of the Golden Trout Wilderness, about 20 miles east of Springville . The Soda Fire was discovered on Tuesday by officials with the Sequoia National Forest. So far the fire has consumed around 130 acres, and is burning at a moderate rate. No structures are threatened. Paul Gibbs, fire information officer with the Sequoia National Forest, says that while it's not uncommon for Southern California to experience fires in January during dry years, such as today's Colby Fire , the Soda Fire is nearly unprecedented in the Sierra. Gibbs: "W ith the lack of snow and rain we've had in the Sierra Nevada this year, we're just in a really rare situation. We are seeing things burn up there more similar to what we would see in July. Without the rain and the snow, the fuels up there, the dead logs and branches and pine needles are very dry." Gibbs says that the fire is largely burning onCalifornia Drought Results In Rare January Forest Fire In The Sierra Nevadahttp://kvpr.org/post/california-drought-results-rare-january-forest-fire-sierra-nevada
27239 as http://kvpr.orgThu, 16 Jan 2014 20:42:52 +0000California Drought Results In Rare January Forest Fire In The Sierra NevadaJoe MooreThe Fish Fire, which was sparked by lightning in the remote Golden Trout Wilderness has now grown to over 1,450 acres. Officials report that the fire is just 7 percent contained. It is burning in a remote area within the Sequoia National Forest about 25 miles northeast of Springville, near the Kern River. The fire has grown by 450 acres since Sunday. Fire officials from Arizona are managing the blaze. Approximately 213 personnel are battling the fire. Due to the remote nature of the site, supplies must be delivered by helicopter or by pack animals. Officials have also closed a number of trails and areas in the Golden Trout Wilderness due to the fire. Fish Fire - updated informationFish Fire Grows In Southern Sierra Near Springvillehttp://kvpr.org/post/fish-fire-grows-southern-sierra-near-springville
20608 as http://kvpr.orgMon, 26 Aug 2013 20:27:56 +0000Fish Fire Grows In Southern Sierra Near Springville